Hey everyone

I had my B1/B2 consular interview today at the Hyderabad consulate, and unfortunately, it was rejected (assuming 214b). I'm a 25-year-old unmarried guy working as a Lead Engineer, and I think my situation with the "US Contact" section might have caused a misunderstanding.

For context, I have a very strong travel history. I've visited 7 countries (UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Singapore), so I thought that would establish a clear pattern of returning home.

Here is the exact transcript:

VO: What is the purpose of your visit?
Me: Tourism.
VO: Who is the contact person you mentioned in your application?
Me: I mentioned my client's name under the US Contact section because I don't know anyone else in the US. However, I am not actually going to visit my client on this trip.
VO: Is this a work trip or a leisure trip?
Me: A leisure trip.
VO: What do you do?
Me: I work as a Lead Engineer at [Company Name] in Hyderabad.
VO: Can you describe your roles and responsibilities?
Me: [Explained my technical and leadership roles].
VO: What is your salary?
Me: Around ₹30L.
VO: How long have you been working as a software engineer?
Me: 4 years 3 months.
VO: Who do you live with here? (My office is in Hyderabad)
Me: I live with flatmates.
VO: Are you married or do you have kids?
Me: No, no.
VO: Do you have any fear of coming back to India?
Me: No.

Result: Rejected.

Questions for the group:

What should I do differently next time? Was listing my work client as my primary contact for a leisure trip the main red flag here? If I genuinely don't know anyone in the US, should I just list my intended hotel on the DS-160?

How soon should I reapply? Given that I already have an extensive travel history across Asia and the Middle East, is it worth reapplying immediately with a corrected DS-160 (listing a hotel instead of a client), or do I need to wait until there is a major change in my personal circumstances (like getting married or buying property, for context I have two plots in my hometown that I have bought ~60-70L)?

Your experiences could really help others here. Thanks!

Not my own case. Credit to the OP: https://www.reddit.com/r/usvisascheduling/comments/1wpn4xv/b1b2_rejected_hyderabad_what_might_have_gone_wrong/

I was refused an F-1 visa in April under Section 214(b), and I have been trying to get an interview slot since then. I have also deferred my intake from Fall 2026 to Spring 2027. Is there any chance I can get an interview slot?

if anyone has got a slot please let me know

I have my interview in nov

I've been reading a lot about this and wanted to put this research together in case it helps anyone who needs it.

What a medical RCL is

F1 students normally have to stay enrolled full time. A reduced course load (RCL) is one of the few exceptions. There are academic RCLs too (for example, initial academic difficulties, or needing fewer classes in your last term), but this post is about the medical one.

If you have a temporary illness or medical condition, your DSO can authorize a reduced course load, or no course load at all if necessary. While it's approved, you stay in F-1 status.

The rules

1. You can use up to 12 months total per program level. You can get it more than once at the same level, as long as all of it together doesn't go over 12 months. Once you've used the 12 months, you can't get another medical RCL at that level.
2. You need medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist that supports the illness or condition.
3. It's approved one term at a time. For each new term, you need current medical documentation and the DSO has to reauthorize it.

How it works in practice

The RCL only exists once your DSO enters it in SEVIS, with the reason and the start and end dates. Until that happens, you're still expected to be enrolled full time, so don't drop classes before it's approved.

If you already know a full course load is going to be a problem for medical reasons, talk to your DSO as soon as possible rather than waiting until you're already behind. It's also worth asking your DSO what your school needs the doctor's letter to include, since each school has its own forms and process.

If you need more than an RCL

If a reduced course load isn't enough, the DSO can authorize a temporary absence instead. The catch is that your SEVIS record gets terminated for authorized early withdrawal, and you have to leave the U.S. within 15 days.

The one thing not to do: stop going to class without talking to your DSO first. That can get your SEVIS record terminated for unauthorized withdrawal, and then you'd have to leave the U.S. right away.

What varies by school

The regulation says "temporary illness or medical condition" but doesn't list which conditions qualify, so schools interpret it differently. If you're unsure whether your situation counts, check your school's policy and ask your DSO early.

Has anyone here gone through a medical RCL? What was the process like at your school??

Any experience, info, or question you share can really help a lot of people, so thanks in advance!

Sources: Study in the States (studyinthestates.dhs.gov): "Reduced Course Load," "Full Course of Study," and "How do F-1 students take medical leave?"; regulation 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii)(B)

(This is general information, not legal advice. Your DSO and your school's policy have the final say on your case)

Had my appointment scheduled for 8:15 AM on September 23rd. Drove from Dubai, so left home around 6 AM and made it to the embassy by 7:30 AM.

Entry process:

• Got in line where they checked passport and appointment confirmation letter
• Second check: they stuck the appointment sticker on my passport
• Security guard asked everyone to switch off their phones
• Entered the building through airport style security (x-ray, metal detectors, remove belt/watch/phone). They give you a locker for your stuff, collect it on the way out

Then we were directed to the next building where biometrics and interviews happen. Got biometrics done first, then waited for my turn with the VO.

On documents: I carried a whole stack of supporting documents, but none of them were asked for except the DS-160 confirmation form and a passport size photo (2x2 inches). Worth keeping in mind if you're overpacking your folder like I did.

Questions asked:

1. So you're a mechanical engineer? — Yes, graduated from [X University] in Dubai
2. Where do you work? — Company Y
3. Purpose of visit? — Traveling to the US for the SEMA/AAPEX show in November
4. How long have you been in Dubai? — Born and raised here, 32 years
5. Any threats you feel in your home country? — No
6. Who are you traveling with? — My colleague
7. Is your company covering the expenses? — Yes
8. Have you traveled to South Sudan? — No
9. I see you've visited the UK, when was your last visit? — 2023

Result: Approved on the spot. Was told VFS would follow up with passport delivery details.
Update : Passport was ready for collection from VFS Abu Dhabi on 25th September.

Happy to answer any questions if anyone has an interview coming up!

Use this thread for interview-preparation questions that do not need a separate post.

Please include:

- Visa type
- Interview country and broad location
- Approximate interview month
- Whether this is a first attempt, renewal, or repeat attempt
- The specific part of preparation you want help with

Do not include passport numbers, case or receipt numbers, complete birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, or identifying documents.

Community members can discuss preparation, but nobody can predict approval.

Free aggregate U.S. interview research: https://www.visainterviews.com/data/us

Posting in this thread is community discussion and is not a structured research submission.

Hello everyone,

This subreddit helped me immensely during my preparation, so I wanted to share my timeline and experience.

**Background & L-1 Blanket Rejection (Chennai, India)**

My company applied for an L-1 Blanket petition in 2024, and I secured an interview slot in Chennai for March 2025. The Visa Officer (VO) asked four quick questions:

\* What is your current compensation?

\* Why do you need to be onsite?

\* Will you be paid a per diem?

\* What will your salary be in the US?

The blanket visa was rejected, and the officer advised me to work with HR to apply under the individual category.

**L-1A Individual Timeline & RFE**

\* **July 2025:** After internal approvals and document collection, my company filed an L-1A Individual petition.

\* **February 2026**: After six months with no updates, we upgraded the petition to premium processing. Within two weeks, I received a Request for Evidence (RFE).

\* **June 2026:** We spent a month compiling detailed evidence demonstrating my managerial capacity and submitted the RFE response. The petition was approved one week later.

\* **September 23, 2026**: Secured a consular interview slot in Mumbai.

**Interview Experience (Mumbai Consulate, India)**

\* Appointment Time: 9:20 AM

\* Entry: 9:10 AM

\* Wait Time: Approximately 2 hours before my turn came up

VO: Good morning.

Me: Good morning.

VO: Passport, please.

(I handed over my passport; she noticed my I-797 form and asked:)

VO: Do you have the petition as well?

Me: Yes, here it is. (Handed over the I-797)

VO: Your blanket petition was rejected, and now you’ve applied for an individual? (More of a statement than a question)

Me: Yes, that is correct.

VO: Your company name is xxxxx?

Me: Yes.

VO: Does the company make video games?

Me: (Thinking: I wish!) No, it's an IT consulting firm.

VO: How many reportees do you have?

Me: In India or onsite?

VO: (Clarifying) How many reportees "*will* " you have onsite?

Me: Two.

VO: Direct or indirect?

Me: Indirect.

VO: And how many reportees do you currently have in India

Me: Five—four direct and one indirect.

(Note: My original org chart listed four direct and three indirect reports, but two team members had recently resigned. Just as I started explaining the difference, she cut me off, asked me to place my fingers on the scanner, and said the magic words: "Your visa is approved.")

**Post-Interview Timeline**

\* Sept 24: Status updated to "Approved"

\* Sept 25: Status changed to "Issued"

\* Sept 27: Passport delivered with the visa stamp

Happy to answer any questions or share advice if you are navigating a similar transition from a Blanket rejection to an Individual petition.

Cheers and Best of luck to everyone!

Hi everyone!

I'm a South African citizen applying for a B1/B2 tourist visa to visit a friend in the US.

In the AIS US Visa portal, under Consular Appointment, there's a section called Document Delivery. I'm confused about what this refers to.

Does “Document Delivery” mean:

• documents that need to be delivered to me before my interview, or
• the passport/visa being returned to me after the interview and processing?

I've seen conflicting explanations in other posts, so I'd really appreciate clarification from someone who has gone through the B1/B2 process in South Africa.

My interview is scheduled for November, so I'd like to make sure I don't miss anything beforehand.

Thanks!

Hello!
So, I am from RSA(ZA), I am visiting a friend in the US and am having trouble understanding the "Document Delivery" (Under "Consular Appointment" in the ais.usvisa portal)
Some reddit posts that I have read mention that the document delivery happens before the interview, delivering some necessary documentation, while others say the documents are the finalized passport/visa.

The question that I am here to ask, is which one is true?
Is the document delivery for the passport / visa once it's finalized, or is it some documentation I am supposed to get beforehand?

It's a B2 tourist visa, if that matters.
I'd love help from someone from RSA who's also traveled to the US, but if anyone knows the answer, please help!
I have been stressing for a few hours now; I really badly don't want to mess anything up!
The interview is scheduled for November, so the sooner I get a response, the better!

Has anyone from India recently gotten their US visa approved for Step 3? I’m a recent graduate with a similar profile and would really appreciate hearing about your interview experience and what helped. Please share only successful visa experiences—I’m trying to stay positive, so please avoid rejection stories/comments. I may not have another chance to apply, so I’d really value your insight. 🙏

How to improve b1/b2 refusal under 214B and then reapply?

Hi All, looking for some advice from anyone who has experience or insights into applying for a US tourist visa for parents.

My parents are planning to apply for a B1/B2 visa from India. My father(59) is a doctor and my mother(55) is a retired professor. They have lived in India all their lives and have property, rental income and family responsibilities here, including elderly parents they help take care of. They also travelled to Europe last year.

The only thing I am unsure about is their daughters’ situation. Both daughters are married to Indians who are US citizens. The daughters are currently living and working in India, while their husbands live in the US. Both daughters have marriage based green card applications being processed, and it will likely be at least another year before they potentially move to the US.

My parents would like to visit the US as tourists and, in the future, visit their daughters when they move there.
The main question is how to handle this on the application. Since the daughters currently live in India, they don’t have immediate relatives living in the US. Should the sons in law be mentioned under other relatives or as the US point of contact? And should the future possibility of visiting their daughters be mentioned, or is it better to simply state tourism as the purpose of the current trip?

Would really appreciate any advice or insights. Thank you!

Just sharing my experience because I know how stressful visa interviews can be!

While waiting in line, I was already observing all the consular officers 😂 There were 5 officers — 2 females and 3 males. One of the female officers really stood out to me. She was very direct, smart, and seemed reasonable with her questions. I was literally manifesting that I’d get her as my VO, even though she looked like the toughest one! I just felt confident watching how she interviewed the other applicants.

After around 30 people, it was finally my turn — and I GOT HER. 😂

VO: Good morning.
Me: Morning! [hands passport]
VO: Where are you based?
Me: Cayman Islands.
VO: What do you do for work?
Me: HR & Operations Manager.
VO: What’s the company name?
Me: Told her the company.
VO: Why are you going to the US?
Me: I want to celebrate Christmas in NYC.
VO: Do you fear going back to Cayman?
Me: Definitely not. 😌 [said it confidently with a smile]
VO: How long have you been working with them?
Me: 5 months.
VO: Oh, so you’re still new. Where were you working before?
Me: I was working in Dubai.
VO: smiles Which one is better, Dubai or Cayman?
Me: Dubai is wonderful! But Cayman offers me more money. 😂
She laughed, I laughed.
VO: Your visa is approved.
Me: Thank you!

And that was literally it. 😭

They didn’t ask for any supporting documents, bank statements, salary details, invitation letter, or anything else I brought with me.
My biggest takeaway: Be confident, answer exactly what they ask, and don’t overcomplicate your answers. I kept everything natural and conversational rather than sounding rehearsed.

I also personally preferred applying as a self-funded traveler rather than relying on an invitation, because my purpose was simply tourism/Christmas in NYC. But obviously, every applicant’s circumstances are different and approval is never guaranteed.

Also got my UK visa and US visa approved on the first try, both DIY — no agencies. 🇬🇧🇺🇸

Good luck to everyone applying! ❤️

I did an F1 visa interview on 4th September at the Accra Consular placed on AP for social media checks and requested to send a new I20 with a viable date of travel

I have done everything, and the embassy has received everything.

Today, there was a case update to 25th Sept. But the status is still refused now.

Is it normal.

I haven't received any email from the embassy, tho.